Black Beauty Zucchini Summer Squash
Price: $3.55
SKU: 3370131During the "high season" of summer, unless you are checking your plants daily, the fruit size can get away from you very quickly! Medium sized to large fruit can still be cooked in the same way as noted above, but since they are maturing during "barbecue season," we like to quarter the zucchini lengthwise, and with the skin left on, coat them in olive oil, season to taste, and then grill them until tender but firm. Often our seasoning is simply fresh ground black pepper and salt, but experiment with herbs for fun flavor variations.
'Black Beauty' was one of the most popular zucchini varieties of the second half of the twentieth-century. Bred at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in Storrs, Connecticut, 'Black Beauty' was developed by stabilizing a cross between 'Salerno' and 'Caserta'.[1] It was introduced, and an "All-America Selection®" winner, in 1957.
Sow directly into the garden after any threat of frost has passed. Sow one inch deep in hills or rows spaced 24 to 30 inches apart.
Harvest when the fruit is six to eight inches long or still tender. Harvest will be lengthened if you keep picking.
- "Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America - Squash, Lists 1-27 Combined," Edited by Linda Wessel-Beaver, Department of Agronomy and Soils, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
- Note: 'Salerno' was an improved Fordhook-type zucchini.
Customer Reviews:
By Ginger McCallum (Haslett MI) on August 18, 2025
These seeds came up right on schedule, and produce a squash every week or so-very manageable. They are lovely and delicious.
By John Shimkus on January 7, 2021
Best yields I've had from many different varieties. Excellent flavor.
By Angela W on April 5, 2020
This has consistently been a great producer for our family. Tastes good and easy to grow!
By Joe DeMeo on March 7, 2014
I had great success with this variety. I was lucky not to have mildew problems. My plants were HUGE and I sometimes didn't see the zuc fruit until they were very large. I prefer to pick them small but all sizes had great flavor. My plants eventually wilted because of vine borer I think but that wasn't until very late. This plant is a must for anyone's garden.
By rosemary kelley on January 3, 2014
I planted several different summer squash in 2013. This summer was slow warming up and we had to deal with powdery mildew. I mulch my gardens and used some homemade sprays to help combat this problem. Because of the weather they were slow to produce BUT I picked these till the end of October. They tasted wonderful and I blanched then froze most of them for this winter. The results were great. I will be planting this zucchini again.
By Chris Walder on December 18, 2013
I purchased this last season. It was frantic because I could not find zucchini anywhere. I thought there was a shortage. So I grew these and was not disappointed at the amount and quality of the squash. Also started to keep that squash beetle away by companion planting. It worked! Only thing is I forgot to harvest any seeds for next season. So I reordered along with another type to try. I love it with all kinds of ways to fix. This season for The Christmas holiday I made zucchini bread and shared it with everyone. Can't wait to get gardening next season.
By Michael Rundquist on August 21, 2013
The plants grew well and fast. I got a few squash off each plant before they got powdery mildew and with all this rain most everything got some kind of fungus this year.<br>
